Education must include the arts
By JR Hoeft | Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 | Policy
Much has been made about our need for scientists, engineers, mathematicians, financiers, and economists to continue moving this great country along its great path.
And I agree with that.
But part of a well-rounded and developed education has to include the arts – and in this case, music – in the curriculum.
Last night I had the privilege to attend a concert performed by nearly 180 children who attend Chesapeake Public Schools. The concert demonstrated just how quickly students learn skills such as teamwork, discipline, communication, and creativity.
The concert was split into two performances: one by the approximately one-hundred twenty 5th Graders of Butts Road Intermediate School; and the other by the over sixty 7th Graders of Hickory Middle School.
Under the instruction and direction of Mrs. K. Banks and Mrs. Nancy Monaghan, it was clear the students were not only enjoying themselves, but developing the skills necessary to be future leaders and contributors within our community.
Performing in front of a near-capacity audience of at least 500 parents, friends, and family at Hickory Middle, the self-esteem for the 5th graders soared as they showed just how far they’ve come from first picking up the instrument this fall, to now being able to play a portion of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.” Then, the 7th graders, nearly flawlessly performed the theme to “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “The Pink Panther”…a performance that left many 5th grade parents saying, “My child will be able to do that!”
As an observer, it was incredible to see what these students have been able to accomplish in just a couple short years, but as Monaghan said, this is the norm.
“These kids are nothing special,” quipped Monaghan, giving the kids some good-natured kidding before starting the concert.
All across the commonwealth, there are debates within every community as to whether maintaining funding within the school system for arts-based education is in the larger “best interest” for the community.
And research backs-up that it is:
- SAT scores go up
- The brain develops more, improving communication and language skills
- The exact skills for workforce development, as recommended by the Department of Labor – teamwork, communication, self-esteem, creative thinking, and invention – are taught
- Vigilance, forethought, and the associated physical response are necessary when playing an instrument
But research aside, for one night, it was clear to hundreds of parents, friends, and family that music education is giving their children skills for a lifetime – skills that many will use in science, engineering, finance, and economics. Let’s hope that it also remains clear to our legislators, school boards, supervisors, and council members.
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About the author
Conservative to the core; liberal with his opinion! J.R. has been involved in politics for over a decade and has worked on several campaigns in Hampton Roads. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Chesapeake and the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia. He is also the director of “Blogs United” in Virginia. E-mail J.R.. Follow J.R. on Twitter.
Comments
7 Responses to "Education must include the arts"
Very interesting post coming from you. First of all I agree but…
So when the school budgets need to be cut where are we to go. Are you willing to pay more taxes for this. The benefits are chicken and egg I think. I.e. people that self-select music tend to have higher IQ/higher income = better academic and social success regardless of taking or not taking music. The skills are already there.
More rhetorical questions than anything
Jim is right, and I may add “arts” isn’t just “music.” Creative expression comes in many forms.
Nova, good question, but it comes from looking at schools from the wrong perspective. Governments explode costs, and “arts in schools” quickly becomes a giant expense it doesn’t need to be. There are many arts organizations in Hampton Roads who would love to partner with the schools for arts programs that don’t become a large, recurring, bloated cost full of administrative overhead, paperwork and bureaucracy.
It could be a regional effort, since there’s no reason for every city to reinvent the wheel when one regional wheel would work fine.
If we really wanted to step up arts in schools, the private sector and non-profit arts organizations would play a significant role, saving on the costs, and accomplishing the result.
If government would look at citizens as a resource for more than taxes, partnerships like those are easy to promote.
GREAT POST….I’m definitely a supporter of the arts in schools. Arts can inspire and bring out the best in us.
J.R.,
Great article. May I point out that articles like this are why I keep coming to this site. Articles from a conservative viewpoint that challenge my own self described moderate opinions.
But I still question the priority of Arts funding. If we are faced with education budget cuts, which gets cut first, Vo-Tech or Arts? Seems to me there are more jobs, and good paying jobs, out there for diesel mechanics then there are for members of symphony orchestras.
While those who desire to listen to a beautiful rendition of Mozart only have to pop the CD into their home stereo, the truck driver needing service for his truck is at the mercy of the ill trained mechanic he is forced to rely on when he needs emergency service.
When the truck driver, too, is forced to tighten his belt in a worsening economy, he is more apt to strike off tickets to the symphony from the list prior to eliminating work on his truck which provides his bread and butter. In the same vein, if cuts in education are necessary, I vote that we sacrifice the Arts prior to sacrificing Vo-Tech.
Vo-Tech offers a better opportunity for a student unable to go on to college. As a consumer of services, I am forced to plunk down money for mechanical services for my truck while symphony tickets are a luxury that I can do without.
But I thank J.R. (and even, gasp, Brian Kirwin) for challenging my opinions. Hopefully zero cuts in education are necessary. But are you guys willing to lead the charge towards increased taxes to support the Arts in education if that is the only way to keep them included in the budget? I might be willing to shoulder such a tax increase as long as the increase is progressive in nature.
I don’ t think choices are fix the car or enjoy the arts. I think there are different ways of immersing students in the arts that are not so costly as to prompt large cost increases.
Again, at the city’s Arts commission, we get many offers to present arts experiences in the schools at a cost so low that existing revenues and grants are all that’s necessary.
More to your point, David, there are more jobs for diesel mechanics than a lot of things. Know how many english majors there are in college? Philosophy majors? Liberal Arts?
Education is a lot more than getting the minimal knowledge responsible to get a job. Heck, I got a degree in communications before there was an internet. I learned how to very effectively utilize 3 television networks. My dad was a mechanic his whole life, but he told me he couldn’t fix a car nowadays, since everything is computerized now.
Education that only teaches work skills for today’s market doesn’t quite get the job done.
Well Brian,
But you conservatives are against Obama’s stimulus bill.
If Obama’s stimulus bill works perhaps we do not have to cut anything. Perhaps we can get things going enough that once enough economic activity pays for everything.
But if worse comes to worse, what is first to hit the cutting floor? First we cut luxuries and the Arts are a luxury.
I like the Arts. I think the Arts are desirable. But there is a line that is drawn between that which is desirable and that which is mandatory.
Seconding JR and Brian.
Pls read the whole thing – you’ll be glad you did:
http://www.symphonymusicians.com/WelcomeAddressbyKarlPaulnack/tabid/87/Default.aspx
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